Though astronomy is subdivided into such branches as
optical, radio, and X-ray, all these branches fall under the domain of
electromagnetic radiation. In 1950s Kozyrev [1] was the first who observed an
unusual effect when the same star was fixed under different angles
simultaneously. In this case, at the observation under one of these angles the
star was supervised at the aperture of the telescope, enclosed by an earthed
metallic sheet. This means that the electromagnetic signal did not reach the
focal volume of the telescope and therefore could not be recorded by the used
setup. Many other astronomers (see, e.g. [2]) have observed the Kozyrev
effect. Followed Kozyrev their used a resistor as a detector of the strange
signal, i.e., they measurements were based on the bolometric principle. The
sensitivity of such facilities was not high-level. So, the question arises:
what does the set-up record when the telescope is screened from an incident
light?

Many other studies conducted at laboratory conditions also
demonstrate the existence of an informational field different from the
electromagnetic one. In the area of quantum physics such kinds of unusual
phenomena have been studied one of us (V.K.) both theoretically [3-8] and
experimentally [7-9].

In the mentioned works [3-9] (see also Ref. [10]) a model
of a real space was constructed and submicroscopic quantum mechanics operating
at an extremely small scale, which easily is transformed to the Schrφdinger
and Dirac formalisms at the atom size was successfully elaborated. It was
argued that the space constitutes of a superdensely packing of superparticles,
which can be treated as some kind of identical balls with the size ~ 10-28
cm (at this size all kinds of interactions come together). In such a manner
the space net to be treated as a substrate, or quantum aether. A local stable
deformation of the space net is associated with the creation of a particle in
the net. Unstable deformations constitute spatial excitations, or
quasi-particles, called "inertons" [3]. A major prediction of the
theory is the above-mentioned excitations, which are excited in the space when
a canonical particle begins to move. Inertons transmit mass (i.e., a local
deformation of the space net) and therefore just inertons are responsible for
inert and gravitational properties of particles.

The research performed demonstrates how inerton clouds
expanded around moving electrons manifest themselves in numerous experiments
[7]. Furthermore the impact of inertons on the collective behaviour of atoms
in a solid has theoretically been treated and then experimentally verified in
metal specimens [8]. In addition just recently the theory has been tested for
truth in the experiment on the hydrogen atoms clustering in the δ-KH(IO3)2
crystal [9].

Thus it was unambiguously proved that the inerton field, a
new physical field, which as fundamental as the electromagnetic one, generates
the quantum mechanics formalism in the region from 10-28 cm to the
atom size (see experiments [7,8]). The dynamic inerton field also accounts for
macroscopic phenomena trespassing upon the range traditionally described by
general relativity (see experiment [9]).

Our intention

The research that we plan to conduct in the area of
astronomy/astrophysics will be based just on the recent findings of V.K. On
the conference Gravitation, Cosmology and Relativistic Astrophysics
held in the State Kharkiv University in November 2000 (Kharkiv, Ukraine) V.K.
gave invited talk [11] and after that the talk was discussed there with staff
of the Cathedra of Astronomy and astronomers of the Kharkiv Observatory. A
conclusion was drawn, that the effects revealed by Kozyrev and others might be
reinterpreted in terms of the inerton field. Namely, we assumed that stars and
planets are able to radiate the inerton field along with the electromagnetic
one. To proof the hypothesis, we need to carry out some new observations of
distant stars, the Sun, and several planets. In particular, we intend to
measure:

· fluctuations of the inerton field induced
by the Sun. Note that in the past some of researchers indeed reported
about periodical alterations of the gravitation acceleration at the Earth
surface (see, e.g. [12,13]). The alterations were associated with changes
of the Sun activity. However, hitherto nobody connected those alterations
with oscillations of the gravitational potential of the Sun, i.e., with
fluctuations of the inerton field of the Sun.

· the speed of inerton waves. The experiment
may be conducted on distant stars, i.e., knowing parameters of a star we
may evaluate the speed of an inerton signal that comes to the Earth from
the star.

· a possible alteration of an inerton flow
radiated by Io , a satellite of Jupiter, caused by periodic vanishing of
Io behind Jupiter due to rotation of the satellite around of the planet.

The aim of the project

It was demonstrated in paper [8] that the inerton field
influences any tested object in the same way as ultra/hyper sound. This is a
very important result because it means that we may used detectors which
response to acoustic or mechanical impacts as an instrument to establish facts
of the radiation of the inerton field of distant objects.

Thus our goal is the making facilities needed to carry out
the experiments proposed above. For this purpose we would like to use the
pyroelectric chip as a detector of inerton waves, which come from stars. Our
detector will be a high sensitive receiver that will be able to absorb the
inerton radiation in a wide spectral range. The parameters of the sensors are
the following:

threshold sensitivity of the receiver
. .. 10-10 W Hz-1/2

spectral band of measurable inerton radiation
10-1 m m
 104 km

coefficient of transformation
.. 104 V/W

The original construction of both the detector and the
facility will permit to distinguish inerton rays of distant objects from all
other inerton excitations and also from the electromagnetic field.

The facility will be passed to Dr. Leonid
Akimov, the
director of the Kharkiv Observatory (35 Soums'ka St., UA-61022, Kharkiv,
Ukraine). Together with Kharkiv astronomers we will set the facility into the
focal volume of the telescope and connect to the readout set-up.

Experience and skill

Participants (O.S. and
V.K.) of the project have had a
strong R&D experience in the work associated with the technological
elaboration, production and application of pyroelectrical receivers. Dr.
Olexander Strokach is the vice-chief of the Department of Receivers of
Radiation, he is a leading technologist of the department. This is a unique
laboratory involved with other scientists of our Institute in developing
leading edge technologies. In particular, our receivers have successfully
functioned in the spectroradiometric equipment of numerous military and civil
spaceships. Specifically: the Russian Mir space station; space satellites,
which investigated Venus and comets; artificial satellites and aircrafts,
which carried out soil investigation, etc. Being certificated in the former
USSR, our receivers have worked as standard measuring tools and control
devices measuring the energy and power of coherent and noncoherent
electromagnetic radiations; the receivers were introduced in medical
facilities, for instance such as "Differential infra-red pyrometer for
medical diagnostics" that has been functioning in the Ophthalmology
Clinic of Odesa (Ukraine) for ten years, etc., etc.

Deliverables and dissemination of results

In the result of the project's performing the following
outcomes will be clarified:

astronomers of the Astronomical Observatory of
Kharkiv,
Ukraine, will receive a facility of a new kind;

a new branch of astronomy will be established, namely
the
inerton astronomy;

fundamental physics will actually acquire the new area of
activity.

Run duration

3 months

Funds

We would like to receive a grant $4,000 needs to carry out
the experiment described above. The amount is quite enough for the making all
needed parts of the facility and its further assemblage. We do not need too
much money for our purpose since the making facilities of similar classes are
a very good debugged process in our Institute of Physics.

During the course of experimentation, the Astronomical
Observatory of Kharkiv will use an amplifier of the Department of Receivers of
Radiation of the Institute of Physics. After that, though the facility will be
the property of the Astronomical Observatory of Kharkiv, the astronomers still
will not be able to use it without the amplifier of Princeton (or Stanford)
system. The price of the said amplifier is approximately $5,000. Thus, we
would like to ask to enlarge the value of the grant to $10,500.

If the outcome of the project will successful, we would
manufacture the facility described for the market. The facility price will
vary from $50 to $100.

[6] V. Krasnoholovets: On the way to submicroscopic
description of nature, http://arXiv.org/abs/quant-ph/9908042; the
revised version has just been accepted by Indian Journal of Theoretical
Physics.

[7] V. Krasnoholovets: On the theory of the anomalous
photoelectric effect stemming from a substructure of matter waves, Indian
Journal of Theoretical Physics, in press (also http://arXiv.org/abs/quant-ph/9906091).